Constancia Gafeney
Constancia Gafeney, known as Connnie, is a resident of Las Vegas, Nevada. She was born in Chicago and raised in Toledo, Ohio. She began drawing and sculpting in childhood. She was awarded a Children’s’ Art Scholarship to study at the renowned Toledo Museum of Art. She received her B.A. degree from Heidelberg College in Tiffin, Ohio. She later resumed her studies in art and education through a joint program offered by The University of Toledo and the Toledo Museum of Art. Her artwork was selected for exhibit in university exhibitions.
In 1986, Constancia became a widow with a teenage daughter to support. To earn a living she worked as a substitute school teacher on weekdays and on weekends as a creative arts instructor. During this most disruptive period she realized the important role that art was playing in her life. This was when she launched her professional art career.
In 1988, she collaborated with other artists to win the commission to create a six foot tall bronze and stainless steel memorial sculpture to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In 1989, she received an Individual Artist Grant from the Ohio Arts Council/ACGT. She also worked as a design team member and project artist, assisting over 150 community children create a permanent city park gateway sculpture. Constancia also served as co-chair of Toledo’s 2nd and 3rd Cultural Diversity Annual Exhibition, in which 14 ethnic groups were represented.
In 1990, her sculpture was selected to be shown in the Ohio Governor’s Residence Exhibition. Other artwork was juried into the prestigious National Juried Competition of African-American Art, held in Atlanta, Georgia. She was invited to exhibit in Atlanta’s Apex Museum. Later that year, Constancia moved to the Atlanta area.
Constancia became a resident of Las Vegas in 1993, and taught adult sculpture classes. After an unfortunate accident in 1994, she returned home to Toledo, Ohio to recover. She eventually returned to Las Vegas, where she was awarded a grant from the Nevada Arts Council, and the commission to create a bas-relief of Sammy Davis Jr. This public sculpture was dedicated and installed in 1997. During this time, Constancia participated in the Teaching and Learning Arts Program, and was an artist instructor at the Las Vegas Indian Center.
Although Constancia is a traditionally trained artist, she feels inspired by the magnificent African (Benin) bronzes and traditional Native American art. As an artist she practices her art with a passion.
Artist statement written by artist, Constancia Gafeney
From the Las Vegas Review Journal, 9/11/97 A bronze sculpture of entertainer Sammy Davis Jr. will be dedicated at 7 pm, Saturday at the Sammy Davis Jr. Festival Plaza, 720 Twin Lakes Drive. The sculpture is by local artist Constancia Gafeney. It was commissioned by the City of Las Vegas Arts Commission as a tribute to Davis’ lifetime of contributions.” Ms. Gafeney also sculpted a statue of Martin Luther King Jr. for the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Bridge in Toledo, Ohio. She has worked on other commissions in Toledo and has exhibited her work throughout the country.
“Creating a work of art which captures the likeness of Sammy Davis Jr. is particularly challenging. Sammy Davis Jr. is too large to contain in any one vision. My artistic goal became one of paying tribute to his lifetime contributions, affirming and honoring an entertainment giant. This artwork speaks of Sammy Davis Jr., the humanitarian and his maturation and spiritual growth.” -Constancia Gafeney
